AMIRAL MOMININ ALI (AS)

Muhammad ibn Yahya and al-Hassan ibn Muhammad both have narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Kufi from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad al-Sayrafi from Salih ibn Khalid from Yaman al-Tammar who has said the following. “Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah  and he said to us, “The in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) will disappear from public sight. At that time following one’s religion would like wiping the thorns of cactus plant with one’s bare. The Imam  made certain hand gestures. Who among you is ready to hold in his hands a branch of cactus? He then remained quite for a little while and then said, “The in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) will disappear from public sight. A servant (of Allah) must maintain piety before Him and hold fast to His religion,”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ يَمَانٍ التَّمَّارِ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله  جُلُوساً فَقَالَ لَنَا إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الامْرِ غَيْبَةً الْمُتَمَسِّكُ فِيهَا بِدِينِهِ كَالْخَارِطِ لِلْقَتَادِ ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا بِيَدِهِ فَأَيُّكُمْ يُمْسِكُ شَوْكَ الْقَتَادِ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ أَطْرَقَ مَلِيّاً ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الامْرِ غَيْبَةً فَلْيَتَّقِ الله عَبْدٌ وَلْيَتَمَسَّكْ بِدِينِهِ.

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn ‘Isa ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Ja’far from his father from his grandfather from Ali ibn Ja’far from his brother, Musa ibn Ja’far  who has said the following. “When the fifth descendant of the seventh (Imam) will disappear from the public sight at that time for the sake of Allah, for the sake of Allah protect your religion so no one can strip off of it. My son, it is necessary that the in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) must disappear from the public sight. Even those who believe in it would turn away from their belief. It will certainly be a trial from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, to test His creature. Had your fathers and ancestors know any other religion more correct than this they would certainly have followed it.” I then asked, “My master, who is the fifth from the descendants of the seven?” He said, “My son, you intelligence falls shorter to reach it and your understanding remain narrower to accommodate it but if you would live you will soon comprehend its being.”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا فُقِدَ الْخَامِسُ مِنْ وُلْدِ السَّابِعِ فَالله الله فِي أَدْيَانِكُمْ لا يُزِيلُكُمْ عَنْهَا أَحَدٌ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهُ لا بُدَّ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الامْرِ مِنْ غَيْبَةٍ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ عَنْ هَذَا الامْرِ مَنْ كَانَ يَقُولُ بِهِ إِنَّمَا هِيَ مِحْنَةٌ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ امْتَحَنَ بِهَا خَلْقَهُ لَوْ عَلِمَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَجْدَادُكُمْ دِيناً أَصَحَّ مِنْ هَذَا لاتَّبَعُوهُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي مَنِ الْخَامِسُ مِنْ وُلْدِ السَّابِعِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ عُقُولُكُمْ تَصْغُرُ عَنْ هَذَا وَأَحْلامُكُمْ تَضِيقُ عَنْ حَمْلِهِ وَلَكِنْ إِنْ تَعِيشُوا فَسَوْفَ تُدْرِكُونَهُ.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Najran from Muhammad ibn al-Musawir from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdullah  say as follows: “Beware of allusion! By Allah, your Imam will be in occultation for a period of time. And you shall indeed be tested until it will be said that he has died, been killed, or lost in an unknown valley. The eyes of the believers will shed many tears for him. Surely, you will be turned upside down just as ships face the rough seas and choppy waters. None will be saved except those from whom Allah has taken a covenant, instilled faith in their hearts, and supported them with a spirit from Him. Twelve ambiguous standards will be raised, none of which will be distinguished from each other.” He said: So I began to cry, and then I asked him, “What will we do then?” He looked at the sunlight shining through the skylight and said to me, “O Abu Abdullah (al-Mufaddal), do you see this sun?” I said, “Yes, I do.” He said, “By Allah, our matter is clearer than this sun.”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُسَاوِرِ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله  يَقُولُ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالتَّنْوِيهَ أَمَا وَالله لَيَغِيبَنَّ إِمَامُكُمْ سِنِيناً مِنْ دَهْرِكُمْ وَلَتُمَحَّصُنَّ حَتَّى يُقَالَ مَاتَ قُتِلَ هَلَكَ بِأَيِّ وَادٍ سَلَكَ وَلَتَدْمَعَنَّ عَلَيْهِ عُيُونُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَتُكْفَؤُنَّ كَمَا تُكْفَأُ السُّفُنُ فِي أَمْوَاجِ الْبَحْرِ فَلا يَنْجُو إِلا مَنْ أَخَذَ الله مِيثَاقَهُ وَكَتَبَ فِي قَلْبِهِ الايمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ وَلَتُرْفَعَنَّ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ رَايَةً مُشْتَبِهَةً لا يُدْرَى أَيٌّ مِنْ أَيٍّ قَالَ فَبَكَيْتُ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ فَكَيْفَ نَصْنَعُ قَالَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى شَمْسٍ دَاخِلَةٍ فِي الصُّفَّةِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله تَرَى هَذِهِ الشَّمْسَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ وَالله لامْرُنَا أَبْيَنُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الشَّمْسِ.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn Abi Najran from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah  say the following. “In the (case) of the person in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority, the twelfth Imam ) there is a similarity to Yusuf (Joseph) .” I then said, “Are you, O Imam, speaking of his life time or his disappearance.” The narrator has said that the Imam  then said, “ What then is it that certain swine-like people of this nation refuse to acknowledge? The brothers of Yusuf were grand children of the prophets. They did business with Yusus, conducted traded with him and spoke to him. They were his brothers and he was their brother but they could not recognize him until he said, I am Yusu and this is my brother.” Why should then (certain people of) this condemned nation refuse to accept if Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, in a certain time would do to the possessor of His authority what He did to Yusuf? Yusuf was the in charge of Egypt and there was a distance of twenty eight days of journey between him and his father. If he wanted to inform him (his father) he could have done so. Jacob and his sons journeyed after they heard the good new for nine days from their Bedouin home to Egypt. Why then this nation would refuse to accept if Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, would do to the person who possess His authority what He did to Yusuf? That he would walk in their market place and step on their furnishings until Allah will grant him permission to reappear in public as He did to Yusuf as they said, “Are you really Yusuf?” He said, “Yes, Yusuf I am .”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله  يَقُولُ إِنَّ فِي صَاحِبِ هَذَا الامْرِ شَبَهاً مِنْ يُوسُفَ  قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ كَأَنَّكَ تَذْكُرُهُ حَيَاتَهُ أَوْ غَيْبَتَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي وَمَا يُنْكَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ هَذِهِ الامَّةُ أَشْبَاهُ الْخَنَازِيرِ إِنَّ إِخْوَةَ يُوسُفَ  كَانُوا أَسْبَاطاً أَوْلادَ الانْبِيَاءِ تَاجَرُوا يُوسُفَ وَبَايَعُوهُ وَخَاطَبُوهُ وَهُمْ إِخْوَتُهُ وَهُوَ أَخُوهُمْ فَلَمْ يَعْرِفُوهُ حَتَّى قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَذَا أَخِي فَمَا تُنْكِرُ هَذِهِ الامَّةُ الْمَلْعُونَةُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِحُجَّتِهِ فِي وَقْتٍ مِنَ الاوْقَاتِ كَمَا فَعَلَ بِيُوسُفَ إِنَّ يُوسُفَ  كَانَ إِلَيْهِ مُلْكُ مِصْرَ وَكَانَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ وَالِدِهِ مَسِيرَةُ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً فَلَوْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُعْلِمَهُ لَقَدَرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ لَقَدْ سَارَ يَعْقُوبُ  وَوُلْدُهُ عِنْدَ الْبِشَارَةِ تِسْعَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ بَدْوِهِمْ إِلَى مِصْرَ فَمَا تُنْكِرُ هَذِهِ الامَّةُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ بِحُجَّتِهِ كَمَا فَعَلَ بِيُوسُفَ أَنْ يَمْشِيَ فِي أَسْوَاقِهِمْ وَيَطَأَ بُسُطَهُمْ حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ الله فِي ذَلِكَ لَهُ كَمَا أَذِنَ لِيُوسُفَ قَالُوا أَ إِنَّكَ لانْتَ يُوسُفُ قالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Musa al-Khashshab from ‘Abdallah ibn Musa from ‘Abdallah ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following. “The young boy will disappear from the public sight before his rise (with divine power)” The narrator has said, “I then asked, “Why (would that has to take place)?” The Imam  said, “He will be afraid.” He pointed out with his hand to his midsection. Then he said, “O zurara, “He is the one whose reappearance is expected. He is the one whose coming to this world through birth will be doubted. Certain people will say, “his father died without leaving any son behind.” Certain others will say, “Just before the dead of his father his mother conceived him.” Still others will say, “He was born two years before the death of his father.” He is the one whose reappearance is expected. The fact is that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, loves to try and test the Shi‘a (his followers). It in such a condition that people of falsehood will raise doubts, O Zurara).” The narrator has said, “I then said, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, if will be alive at the time of his rise with divine power what should I do?” The Imam  said, “O Zurara, if you will live up to such time then say the following prayer. “O Lord make me know You for if you would not make me know You I will not know Your prophet. O Lord, make me know Your Messenger, for if You would not make me know your Messenger I will not know the one who possesses Your authority over the creatures. O Lord make me know the one who possesses Your authority over the creatures for if You will not make me know him I will stray away from my religion.” Then he said, “O Zurara, it is necessary that a young boy must be murdered in the city of Madina.” I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, would he not be killed in the hands of the army of al-Sufyani?” He said, “No, but the army of the tribe of so and so will kill him. They will come to inter Madina, thus, they take hold of the young boy and kill him. When they will murder him in transgression, animosity and injustice they will not then be given respite. At such time good news will be expected, if Allah would so will.”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُوسَى الْخَشَّابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله  يَقُولُ إِنَّ لِلْغُلامِ غَيْبَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُومَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَلِمَ قَالَ يَخَافُ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى بَطْنِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ وَهُوَ الْمُنْتَظَرُ وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِي وِلادَتِهِ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ مَاتَ أَبُوهُ بِلا خَلَفٍ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ حَمْلٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ وُلِدَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِ أَبِيهِ بِسَنَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ الْمُنْتَظَرُ غَيْرَ أَنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَمْتَحِنَ الشِّيعَةَ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ يَرْتَابُ الْمُبْطِلُونَ يَا زُرَارَةُ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنْ أَدْرَكْتُ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانَ أَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ أَعْمَلُ قَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ إِذَا أَدْرَكْتَ هَذَا الزَّمَانَ فَادْعُ بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ اللهمَّ عَرِّفْنِي نَفْسَكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي نَفْسَكَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْ نَبِيَّكَ اللهمَّ عَرِّفْنِي رَسُولَكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي رَسُولَكَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْ حُجَّتَكَ اللهمَّ عَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ ضَلَلْتُ عَنْ دِينِي ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ لا بُدَّ مِنْ قَتْلِ غُلامٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَ لَيْسَ يَقْتُلُهُ جَيْشُ السُّفْيَانِيِّ قَالَ لا وَلَكِنْ يَقْتُلُهُ جَيْشُ آلِ بَنِي فُلانٍ يَجِي‏ءُ حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَيَأْخُذُ الْغُلامَ فَيَقْتُلُهُ فَإِذَا قَتَلَهُ بَغْياً وَعُدْوَاناً وَظُلْماً لا يُمْهَلُونَ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ تَوَقُّعُ الْفَرَجِ إِنْ شَاءَ الله.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from Ishaq ibn Muhammad from Yahya ibn al-Muthanna from ‘Abdallah ibn Bukayr from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurara who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah  say as herein below. “People will miss their Imam . He will attain Hajj and see them but they will not see him.”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمُثَنَّى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله  يَقُولُ يَفْقِدُ النَّاسُ إِمَامَهُمْ يَشْهَدُ الْمَوْسِمَ فَيَرَاهُمْ وَلا يَرَوْنَهُ.

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid who has said that Mundhir ibn Muhammad ibn Qabus narrated to us from Mansur ibn al-Sindi from abu Dawud al-Mustariq from Tha‘laba ibn Maymun from Malik al-Juhanni from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah from al-Asbagh ibn Nubata who has said the following. “Once I went to see Amir al-Mu’minin  and found him thinking and he drawing lines on the ground. I then said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin  I can see you thinking and drawing lines on the ground. Have you become interested in it (worldly things) ?” He said, no, by Allah, I have not become interested in it and the whole world not even for a day but I thought about a baby from my descendants, the eleventh generation. He will be al-Mahdi who will fill the earth with justice and fairness after its being filled with suffering and injustice. He will disappear from the public sight and in confusing conditions. Certain people will deviate and others find the path of guidance.” I then asked, “O Amir al-Mu’minin , how long will be the duration of confusion and the disappearance?” He said, “Six days or six months or six years.” I then said, “Will this really come to pass?” He said, “Yes, just his creation will be necessary (so also will be his disappearance). However, O Asbagh, this is not your concern. Those people will of the best in this nation with the best virtuous ones of this family (Ahl al-Bayt).” I then said, “What then will happen afterwards?” He said, “Allah will do whatever He will so decide. He possesses, Bada’s, (seemingly change of plan) wills, goals and ends.”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُنْذِرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ قَابُوسَ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي دَاوُدَ الْمُسْتَرِقِّ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ مَالِكٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنِ الاصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ  فَوَجَدْتُهُ مُتَفَكِّراً يَنْكُتُ فِي الارْضِ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا لِي أَرَاكَ مُتَفَكِّراً تَنْكُتُ فِي الارْضِ أَ رَغْبَةً مِنْكَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ لا وَالله مَا رَغِبْتُ فِيهَا وَلا فِي الدُّنْيَا يَوْماً قَطُّ وَلَكِنِّي فَكَّرْتُ فِي مَوْلُودٍ يَكُونُ مِنْ ظَهْرِي الْحَادِيَ عَشَرَ مِنْ وُلْدِي هُوَ الْمَهْدِيُّ الَّذِي يَمْلا الارْضَ عَدْلاً وَقِسْطاً كَمَا مُلِئَتْ جَوْراً وَظُلْماً تَكُونُ لَهُ غَيْبَةٌ وَحَيْرَةٌ يَضِلُّ فِيهَا أَقْوَامٌ وَيَهْتَدِي فِيهَا آخَرُونَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَكَمْ تَكُونُ الْحَيْرَةُ وَالْغَيْبَةُ قَالَ سِتَّةَ أَيَّامٍ أَوْ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍ أَوْ سِتَّ سِنِينَ فَقُلْتُ وَإِنَّ هَذَا لَكَائِنٌ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ كَمَا أَنَّهُ مَخْلُوقٌ وَأَنَّى لَكَ بِهَذَا الامْرِ يَا أَصْبَغُ أُولَئِكَ خِيَارُ هَذِهِ الامَّةِ مَعَ خِيَارِ أَبْرَارِ هَذِهِ الْعِتْرَةِ فَقُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَا يَكُونُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ثُمَّ يَفْعَلُ الله مَا يَشَاءُ فَإِنَّ لَهُ بَدَاءَاتٍ وَإِرَادَاتٍ وَغَايَاتٍ وَنِهَايَاتِ.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hannan ibn Sadir from Ma‘ruf ibn Kharrabudh from abu Ja’far  who has said the following. “We are only like the stars in the heavens. Whenever one star disappears (from sight) another one comes in view until you will point out with your fingers and make a gesture with your necks. Allah will cause your star to disappear from your sight. The descendants of ‘Abd al-Muttalib will all look similar as such that one would not know which is which When your star will reappear then you must give thanks to Allah.”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ مَعْرُوفِ بْنِ خَرَّبُوذَ عَنْ ابي جعفر  قَالَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ كَنُجُومِ السَّمَاءِ كُلَّمَا غَابَ نَجْمٌ طَلَعَ نَجْمٌ حَتَّى إِذَا أَشَرْتُمْ بِأَصَابِعِكُمْ وَمِلْتُمْ بِأَعْنَاقِكُمْ غَيَّبَ الله عَنْكُمْ نَجْمَكُمْ فَاسْتَوَتْ بَنُو عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَلَمْ يُعْرَفْ أَيٌّ مِنْ أَيٍّ فَإِذَا طَلَعَ نَجْمُكُمْ فَاحْمَدُوا رَبَّكُمْ.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mu‘awiya from ‘Abdallah ibn Jabala from ‘Abdallah ibn Bukayr from Zurara who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah  say as herein below. “The person who will rise to Divine power on earth will disappear from the public sight before he will do so.” I then asked, “Why, will happen so?” He said, “He will be afraid.” He then pointed to his midsection meaning thereby being murderd.”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله  يَقُولُ إِنَّ لِلْقَائِمِ  غَيْبَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُومَ قُلْتُ وَلِمَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَخَافُ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى بَطْنِهِ يَعْنِي الْقَتْلَ.

Ali b. Ibrahim has narrated from from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Abu Ayyub al-Khazzas from Muhammad b. Muslim who said: I heard abu ‘Abdillah  say, “‘If an occultation reaches you all regarding the Master of this command, then do not reject it.”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله  يَقُولُ إِنْ بَلَغَكُمْ عَنْ صَاحِبِ هَذَا الامْرِ غَيْبَةٌ فَلا تُنْكِرُوهَا.

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mu‘awiya from ‘Abdallah ibn Jabala from Ibrahim ibn Khalaf ibn ‘Abbad al-Anmati from Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. “Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah  and there other people also were present so I thought the Imam  meant people other thanme when he said, “By Allah, the in chrage of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) will disappear from your sight and this (case) will become so obscure that people will say, “He is dead, destroyed or no one knows in which valley has he traveled. You will be shaken just as the ship is shaken in the rough seas and choppy water. No one will remain safe except those in whose hear He has written faith and has supported with an spirit from Him. You will raise twelve identical flags so much so that one would not know which is which” The narrator has said, “I then wept.” The Imam  asked, “what has caused you to weep, O abu ‘Abdallah ?” I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “How can I stop weeping when you say, “Twelve identical flags. . “ The narrator has said that the place of gathering sun light had come in through a whole. The Imam  said, “Is this (sun light on the spot) clear?” I said, “Yes, it is clear.” The Imam  said, “ our case is clear even more than this.”

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ خَلَفِ بْنِ عَبَّادٍ الانْمَاطِيِّ عَنْ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله  وَعِنْدَهُ فِي الْبَيْتِ أُنَاسٌ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ بِذَلِكَ غَيْرِي فَقَالَ أَمَا وَالله لَيَغِيبَنَّ عَنْكُمْ صَاحِبُ هَذَا الامْرِ وَلَيَخْمِلَنَّ هَذَا حَتَّى يُقَالَ مَاتَ هَلَكَ فِي أَيِّ وَادٍ سَلَكَ وَلَتُكْفَؤُنَّ كَمَا تُكْفَأُ السَّفِينَةُ فِي أَمْوَاجِ الْبَحْرِ لا يَنْجُو إِلا مَنْ أَخَذَ الله مِيثَاقَهُ وَكَتَبَ الايمَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ وَلَتُرْفَعَنَّ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ رَايَةً مُشْتَبِهَةً لا يُدْرَى أَيٌّ مِنْ أَيٍّ قَالَ فَبَكَيْتُ فَقَالَ مَا يُبْكِيكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ لا أَبْكِي وَأَنْتَ تَقُولُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ رَايَةً مُشْتَبِهَةً لا يُدْرَى أَيٌّ مِنْ أَيٍّ قَالَ وَفِي مَجْلِسِهِ كَوَّةٌ تَدْخُلُ فِيهَا الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ أَ بَيِّنَةٌ هَذِهِ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ أَمْرُنَا أَبْيَنُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الشَّمْسِ.

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from al-Qasim ibn ’Isma‘il al-Anbari from Yahya ibn al-Muthanna from ‘Abdallah ibn Bukayr from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurara from abu ‘Abdillah  who has said the following: “Al-Qa’im (Imam al-Mahdi) will have two occultations. In one of them he will attend the seasons (of Hajj). He will see the people but they will not see him.”

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الانْبَارِيِّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمُثَنَّى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله  قَالَ لِلْقَائِمِ غَيْبَتَانِ يَشْهَدُ فِي إِحْدَاهُمَا الْمَوَاسِمَ يَرَى النَّاسَ وَلا يَرَوْنَهُ.

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya and others from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father, all three of them from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from abu Hamza from abu Ishaq al-Sabi’Isma‘il from a reliable one of the companions of Amir al-Mu’minin  who has said the following. “Amir al-Mu’minin  once spoke the words herein below from the pulpit in Kufa and I memorized them. “O Lord it is certain that You must have a person with Your Authority on Yaour earth. Such persons would come one after the other whith Your authority over the creatures who would guide people in your religion and teach them your knowledge so that your friends would not scatter. They can be in the public sight but disobeyed or out of public sight whose reappearance would be expected. Even though their persons will be hidden form the people in peace time but their knowledge that has spread before will not be hidden from the people. Their discipline will firmly be established in the hearts of people and they will act up on them.” In another part of this sermon he has  said, “Who would it be to have such discipline?” For this reason knowledge becomes obscure when it does not find any one to bear, protect and narrate it to others just as they have heard it from the scholars and speak truthfully from them in it. O Lord, I know that all the knowledge will not become obscure and all of its sources will not banish. You will not leave your earth without a person with Your authority over Your. He may either live in public sight but is not obeyed and followed or is afraid and hidden from public sight so that Your authority is not invalidated and Your friends are not mislead after You have granted them guidance. In fact, where are they and how many are they? They are very few in number but of very great honor and respect before Allah.”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ السَّبِيعِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ  مِمَّنْ يُوثَقُ بِهِ أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ  تَكَلَّمَ بِهَذَا الْكَلامِ وَحُفِظَ عَنْهُ وَخَطَبَ بِهِ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ الْكُوفَةِ اللهمَّ إِنَّهُ لا بُدَّ لَكَ مِنْ حُجَجٍ فِي أَرْضِكَ حُجَّةٍ بَعْدَ حُجَّةٍ عَلَى خَلْقِكَ يَهْدُونَهُمْ إِلَى دِينِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُونَهُمْ عِلْمَكَ كَيْلا يَتَفَرَّقَ أَتْبَاعُ أَوْلِيَائِكَ ظَاهِرٍ غَيْرِ مُطَاعٍ أَوْ مُكْتَتَمٍ يُتَرَقَّبُ إِنْ غَابَ عَنِ النَّاسِ شَخْصُهُمْ فِي حَالِ هُدْنَتِهِمْ فَلَمْ يَغِبْ عَنْهُمْ قَدِيمُ مَبْثُوثِ عِلْمِهِمْ وَآدَابُهُمْ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُثْبَتَةٌ فَهُمْ بِهَا عَامِلُونَ وَيَقُولُ  فِي هَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةِ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ فِيمَنْ هَذَا وَلِهَذَا يَأْرِزُ الْعِلْمُ إِذَا لَمْ يُوجَدْ لَهُ حَمَلَةٌ يَحْفَظُونَهُ وَيَرْوُونَهُ كَمَا سَمِعُوهُ مِنَ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَيَصْدُقُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهِ اللهمَّ فَإِنِّي لاعْلَمُ أَنَّ الْعِلْمَ لا يَأْرِزُ كُلُّهُ وَلا يَنْقَطِعُ مَوَادُّهُ وَإِنَّكَ لا تُخْلِي أَرْضَكَ مِنْ حُجَّةٍ لَكَ عَلَى خَلْقِكَ ظَاهِرٍ لَيْسَ بِالْمُطَاعِ أَوْ خَائِفٍ مَغْمُورٍ كَيْلا تَبْطُلَ حُجَّتُكَ وَلا يَضِلَّ أَوْلِيَاؤُكَ بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَهُمْ بَلْ أَيْنَ هُمْ وَكَمْ هُمْ أُولَئِكَ الاقَلُّونَ عَدَداً الاعْظَمُونَ عِنْدَ الله قَدْراً.

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Musa ibn al-Qasim ibn Mu‘awiya al-Bajali from Ali ibn Ja’far from his brother, Musa ibn Ja’far  who has said the following about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic and Gracious: “Say, “Have you not thought that if your water was to dry up, who would bring you water from the spring?” (67:30). He said, “When your Imam would disappear from among you, then who will bring you a new Imam?”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْبَجَلِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قُلْ أَ رَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ ماؤُكُمْ غَوْراً فَمَنْ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِماءٍ مَعِينٍ قَالَ إِذَا غَابَ عَنْكُمْ إِمَامُكُمْ فَمَنْ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِإِمَامٍ جَدِيدٍ.

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “When an Occultation reaches you all from your Companion, do not reject it.”

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله  يَقُولُ إِنْ بَلَغَكُمْ عَنْ صَاحِبِكُمْ غَيْبَةٌ فَلا تُنْكِرُوهَا.

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah  who has said the following. “It is necessary for the person in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) to disappear from the public sight and in his disappearance form public sight he must remain away from public. How good is Tayba, the city of Madina, for dwelling and living with thirty people is not frightening isolation.”

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله  قَالَ لا بُدَّ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الامْرِ مِنْ غَيْبَةٍ وَلا بُدَّ لَهُ فِي غَيْبَتِهِ مِنْ عُزْلَةٍ وَنِعْمَ الْمَنْزِلُ طَيْبَةُ وَمَا بِثَلاثِينَ مِنْ وَحْشَةٍ.

through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from al-Washsha’ from Ali ibn al-Hassan from Aban ibn Taghlib who has said the following. “How would it be with you when an lagre scale attack would take place between the two mosques. Thereafter, knowledge will become obscure as the snake goes in to its hiding place. The Shi‘a (Muslims) will hold differences and one group will call the group liars and one group will spit onto the faces of the aother.” I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, there will be nothing good in such conditions.” The Imam  said, “All goodness will be there.” He said it three times.

وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله  كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْبَطْشَةُ بَيْنَ الْمَسْجِدَيْنِ فَيَأْرِزُ الْعِلْمُ كَمَا تَأْرِزُ الْحَيَّةُ فِي جُحْرِهَا وَاخْتَلَفَتِ الشِّيعَةُ وَسَمَّى بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً كَذَّابِينَ وَتَفَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِ بَعْضٍ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقَالَ لِي الْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ ثَلاثاً.

Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from his father, Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Bukayr from Zurara who has said the following. “ Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority) will disappear before he will rise with divine power. He will suffer fear. The Imam  pointed to his midsection, meaning thereby being murdered.”

وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله  يَقُولُ إِنَّ لِلْقَائِمِ غَيْبَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقُومَ إِنَّهُ يَخَافُ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى بَطْنِهِ يَعْنِي الْقَتْلَ.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah  has said, Al-Qa’im ((the one who will rise with Divine Authority) will have two disappearances. One of them will be for a short time and the other for a longer time. No one would know his place during the shorter disappearance except the special persons from his Shi‘a. During his longer disappearance no one will see him except very special persons from his friends.”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله  لِلْقَائِمِ غَيْبَتَانِ إِحْدَاهُمَا قَصِيرَةٌ وَالاخْرَى طَوِيلَةٌ الْغَيْبَةُ الاولَى لا يَعْلَمُ بِمَكَانِهِ فِيهَا إِلا خَاصَّةُ شِيعَتِهِ وَالاخْرَى لا يَعْلَمُ بِمَكَانِهِ فِيهَا إِلا خَاصَّةُ مَوَالِيهِ.

Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Idris have narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Kufi from Ali ibn Hass’an from his paternal uncle, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir from Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah  say, “The in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) will disappear from the public sight twice. From one them he will return to his family but in the other one it will be said that he is dead or no one knows in which of the valleys has he traveled.” I then asked, “What shall we do in such conditions?” The Imam  said, “If any one would claim to have such authority you then should ask him about several things in which he must answer like him (Leader with Divine Authority).”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ عَمِّهِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله  يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الامْرِ غَيْبَتَانِ إِحْدَاهُمَا يَرْجِعُ مِنْهَا إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَالاخْرَى يُقَالُ هَلَكَ فِي أَيِّ وَادٍ سَلَكَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ نَصْنَعُ إِذَا كَانَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ إِذَا ادَّعَاهَا مُدَّعٍ فَاسْأَلُوهُ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ يُجِيبُ فِيهَا مِثْلَهُ.

Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ja’far ibn al-Qasim from Muhammad ibn al-Walid al-Khazzaz from al-Walid ibn ‘Uqba from al-Harith ibn Ziyad from Shu‘ayb from abu Hamza who has said the following. “ Once I went to see abu ‘Abdallah  and said to him, “Are you the in charge of this task ((to rise with divine power)?” he said, “No, I am not he.” I then asked, “Is he your son?” He said, “No, my son will be he either.” I then asked, “Will the son of your son be he?” He said, “No, my grandson will not be he.” I then asked will your great grandson be he?” The Imam  said, “No, my great grandson will not be he also.” I the asked, “Who then be he?” The Imam  said, “He will be the one who will fill the earth with justice after its being filled with injustice and cruelty. (He will come) at a time when the Imams will be absent just as the Messenger of Allah was raised (to preach) when for a long time there had come no messengers.”

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ الْخَزَّازِ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله  فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَنْتَ صَاحِبُ هَذَا الامْرِ فَقَالَ لا فَقُلْتُ فَوَلَدُكَ فَقَالَ لا فَقُلْتُ فَوَلَدُ وَلَدِكَ هُوَ قَالَ لا فَقُلْتُ فَوَلَدُ وَلَدِ وَلَدِكَ فَقَالَ لا قُلْتُ مَنْ هُوَ قَالَ الَّذِي يَمْلاهَا عَدْلاً كَمَا مُلِئَتْ ظُلْماً وَجَوْراً عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الائِمَّةِ كَمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله ﷺ بُعِثَ عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ.

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from Musa ibn Ja’far al-Baghdadi from Wahab ibn Shadhan from al-Hassan ibn abu al-Rabi‘ from Muhammad ibn Ishaq from ’Umm Hani who has said the following. “I asked abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali  about the meaning of the words of Allah. “I do not (need to) swear by the orbiting (8:5) stars which are visible during the night (8:6) and sit during the day,. “. (8:7)” She has said that then he said, “It refers to the Imam who will disappear in the year two hundred sixty then he will rise like a shooting star that shines during the dark night. If you would attain such time it will brighten your eyes with happiness.”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْبَغْدَادِيِّ عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ قَالَتْ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدَ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله تَعَالَى فَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ الْجَوارِ الْكُنَّسِ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ إِمَامٌ يَخْنِسُ سَنَةَ سِتِّينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَظْهَرُ كَالشِّهَابِ يَتَوَقَّدُ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الظَّلْمَاءِ فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتِ زَمَانَهُ قَرَّتْ عَيْنُكِ.

A number of our people has narrated from Sa‘d ibn ‘Abdallah from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Umar ibn Yazid from al-Hassan ibn al-Rabi ‘ al-Hamdani who has said that Muhammad ibn Istaq narrated to us from ’Usayd ibn Tha‘laba from ’Umm Hani who has said the following. “Once I met abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali  and asked him about he meaning of “I do not (need to) swear by the orbiting (8:5) stars which are visible during the night (8:6) and sit during the day,. “. (8:7)” The Imam  said, “Al-Khunnas, refers to the imam who will disappear in his time when the knowledge about him will be cut off from people in the year two hundred sixty. Then he will reappear like a shooting star in the dark night. If you will attain such time it will light up your eyes with delight.”

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ أُسَيْدِ بْنِ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ قَالَتْ لَقِيتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدَ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ هَذِهِ الايَةِ فَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ الْجَوارِ الْكُنَّسِ قَالَ الْخُنَّسُ إِمَامٌ يَخْنِسُ فِي زَمَانِهِ عِنْدَ انْقِطَاعٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ سَنَةَ سِتِّينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَبْدُو كَالشِّهَابِ الْوَاقِدِ فِي ظُلْمَةِ اللَّيْلِ فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتِ ذَلِكِ قَرَّتْ عَيْنُكِ.

Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from certain ones of our people from Ayyub ibn Nuh from abu a-Hassan, the third,  who has said the following. “When your knowledge that is with you will banish then expect glad news to emerge beneath your feet.”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الثَّالِثِ  قَالَ إِذَا رُفِعَ عِلْمُكُمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَظْهُرِكُمْ فَتَوَقَّعُوا الْفَرَجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَقْدَامِكُمْ.

A number of our people has narrated from Sa‘d ibn ‘Abdillah from Ayyub ibn Nuh who has said the following: “I said to abu al-Hassan al-Rida , ’I hope that you will be incharge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority). Allah will drive it to your control with the sword now that the pledge of allegiance is offered to you and currency coins are printed in your name.” The Imam  said, “There has been no one from us with whom letters had been exchanged, being pointed out with the gesture of fingers, questions asked and properties delivered to him but that he was murdered or died in his bed. (It will be as such) until Allah will raise for this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) a young boy from us whose birth place and upbringing would be unknown (to people) but not his ancestors.”

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا  إِنِّي أَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونَ صَاحِبَ هَذَا الامْرِ وَأَنْ يَسُوقَهُ الله إِلَيْكَ بِغَيْرِ سَيْفٍ فَقَدْ بُويِعَ لَكَ وَضُرِبَتِ الدَّرَاهِمُ بِاسْمِكَ فَقَالَ مَا مِنَّا أَحَدٌ اخْتَلَفَتْ إِلَيْهِ الْكُتُبُ وَأُشِيرَ إِلَيْهِ بِالاصَابِعِ وَسُئِلَ عَنِ الْمَسَائِلِ وَحُمِلَتْ إِلَيْهِ الامْوَالُ إِلا اغْتِيلَ أَوْ مَاتَ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ الله لِهَذَا الامْرِ غُلاماً مِنَّا خَفِيَّ الْوِلادَةِ وَالْمَنْشَإِ غَيْرَ خَفِيٍّ فِي نَسَبِهِ.

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad and others have narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-‘Abbass ibn ‘Amir from Musa ibn Hilal al-Kindi from ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Ata’, fron abu Ja’far  the following. “I said to him, ‘Your Shi‘a (followers) in Iraq are many. By Allah, there is no one like you in your family. Why do you not rise (for leadership)?” The narrator has said that he said, “O ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Ata’, you have began to open your ears to silliness. Yes, by Allah, I am not your companion (the one who will rise with Divine Authority).” The narrator has said that I said to him, “Who then is our companion (the one who will rise with Divine Authority)?” The Imam  then said, “Find out whose time and place of birth is unknown to people, such person will be your companion (the one who will rise with Divine Authority). There is no one among us towards whom people point out their fingers so much and tongues will mention him so much, but that has died in frustration or due sorrow for being neglected.”

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ هِلالٍ الْكِنْدِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَطَاءٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر  قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ شِيعَتَكَ بِالْعِرَاقِ كَثِيرَةٌ وَالله مَا فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ مِثْلُكَ فَكَيْفَ لا تَخْرُجُ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ الله بْنَ عَطَاءٍ قَدْ أَخَذْتَ تَفْرُشُ أُذُنَيْكَ لِلنَّوْكَى إِي وَالله مَا أَنَا بِصَاحِبِكُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ فَمَنْ صَاحِبُنَا قَالَ انْظُرُوا مَنْ عَمِيَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وِلادَتُهُ فَذَاكَ صَاحِبُكُمْ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ يُشَارُ إِلَيْهِ بِالاصْبَعِ وَيُمْضَغُ بِالالْسُنِ إِلا مَاتَ غَيْظاً أَوْ رَغِمَ أَنْفُهُ.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from abu ‘Abdallah  who has said the following. “Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority) will rise and he will not be obliged to any one under any covenant, agreement or oath of allegiance.”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله  قَالَ يَقُومُ الْقَائِمُ وَلَيْسَ لاحَدٍ فِي عُنُقِهِ عَهْدٌ وَلا عَقْدٌ وَلا بَيْعَةٌ.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-‘Attar from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from Mansur from the person he mentioned the following from abu ‘Abdallah  “I askked him, “If I passthe day and night and do not find Imam to follow then what should I do?” The Imam  said, “love those whom you love and hate those whom you hate until Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, will grant him permission to reappear.”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْعَطَّارِ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله  قَالَ قُلْتُ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتُ وَأَمْسَيْتُ لا أَرَى إِمَاماً أَئْتَمُّ بِهِ مَا أَصْنَعُ قَالَ فَأَحِبَّ مَنْ كُنْتَ تُحِبُّ وَأَبْغِضْ مَنْ كُنْتَ تُبْغِضُ حَتَّى يُظْهِرَهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad has narrated from from Ahmad ibn Hilal who has said that ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa narrated to us from Khalid ibn Najih from Zurara ibn A‘yan that abu ‘Abdallah  has said the following. “It will be necessary for the young boy to diappear from the public sight.” I then asked, “Why it will be necessary?” He said, “Because he will have fear- he then pointed towards his midsection. He will be the one whose reappearance will be intensely expected. It will be he in whose being born people will have doubts. Certain people will say, “His mother has just conceived him.” Others will say, “His father died but left no surviving son.” Certain others will say, “He was born two years before the death of his father.” Zurara has said, “I said to him, ‘What do you command me if will attain that time?” The Imam  said, “Pray to Allah in the following words. “O Lord, make me know You for if you would not make me know You I will not know You. O Lord, make me know Your prophet, for if You would not make me know your Messenger I will never know him. O Lord, make me know the one who possesses Your authority over the creatures for if You will not make me know him I will stray away from my religion.” Ahmad ibn Hilal has said, “I had heard this hadith fifty six years ago.”

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ هِلالٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عِيسَى عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ نَجِيحٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله  لا بُدَّ لِلْغُلامِ مِنْ غَيْبَةٍ قُلْتُ وَلِمَ قَالَ يَخَافُ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى بَطْنِهِ وَهُوَ الْمُنْتَظَرُ وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَشُكُّ النَّاسُ فِي وِلادَتِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ حَمْلٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ مَاتَ أَبُوهُ وَلَمْ يُخَلِّفْ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ وُلِدَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِ أَبِيهِ بِسَنَتَيْنِ قَالَ زُرَارَةُ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي لَوْ أَدْرَكْتُ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانَ قَالَ ادْعُ الله بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ اللهمَّ عَرِّفْنِي نَفْسَكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي نَفْسَكَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْكَ اللهمَّ عَرِّفْنِي نَبِيَّكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي نَبِيَّكَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْهُ قَطُّ اللهمَّ عَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ ضَلَلْتُ عَنْ دِينِي قَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْهِلالِ سَمِعْتُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ مُنْذُ سِتٍّ وَخَمْسِينَ سَنَةً.

Abu Ali al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn Hassa’n from Muhammad ibn Ali from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Qasim from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar from abu ‘Abdallah  who has said the following about the words of Allah. “When the trumpet is sounded,” (74:8) From us there will be a triumphant Imam. behind the cover. When will want to grant him permission to (rise with Divine Authority and power He will place a dot in his heart. He will then reappear in public sight and will rise (with divine power) by the command Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.”

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله  فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَإِذا نُقِرَ فِي النَّاقُورِ قَالَ إِنَّ مِنَّا إِمَاماً مُظَفَّراً مُسْتَتِراً فَإِذَا أَرَادَ الله عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ إِظْهَارَ أَمْرِهِ نَكَتَ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةً فَظَهَرَ فَقَامَ بِأَمْرِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى.

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from Muhammad ibn al-Faraj who has said the following. “Abu Ja’far  wrote to me, ‘when Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is angry with His creatures He keeps us away from their neighborhood.”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفَرَجِ قَالَ كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ  إِذَا غَضِبَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ نَحَّانَا عَنْ جِوَارِهِمْ.